Reminder



C E. CARLSON Feb. 2, 1932.

REMINDER Filed Sept. 9, 1950 A TI'ORNE Y Patented. Feb. 2, 1932 CARL EDWIN CARLSON, 0F LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK REMINDER Application filed September 9, 1930. Serial No. 480,632.

This invention relates to indicators and has particular reference to reminders.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having I improved meansof a simplified nature for mounting an indicator and permitting adjustment thereof to present any desired indicia.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an indicator or reminder having one or more indicia bearing elements of novel and improved construction and arrangement, affording a simple, neat, and compact device.

Another object of the invention is to construct a device having one ormore indicator elements mounted on a flexible or elastic means or having coacting resilient means so that while all the elements have a unitary mounting, they are resiliently held in required position and may be moved and set to present a desired indicia, on deforming the resilient means, the element so operated being thereafter again resiliently retained in position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a reminder which can be disposed against any suitable surface, such as a bar, or the spoke of an automobile handwheel with coordinated improved holding and attachment means, whereby the device may assume the general form of a loop, or the like. Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the type mentioned having few and simple parts, and which is inexpensive to manufacture, easy and convenient to operate, and reliable and eflicient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations "and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawings, wherein like parts aredesignated by the same reference character throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a steering Wheel showing an embodiment of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device in open dismounted position. i

Fig. 4 is an end view of an attachment block.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view of a modified attachment means.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices maybe produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawings, therefore, are submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Generally described, the invention pro vides an indicator which may be broadly contemplated as applicable for a great variety of uses, and in connection with different types of machines, to act as a signal, reminder, or

recorder, according to the circumstances, and regardless Whether the device be automatically or manually operated. To illustrate the principle involved, it is sufficient to show a simple embodiment of the invention adapted for use on automobiles, to be displayed in some convenient and conspicuous position, and upon being set, to act as a reminder of the needs or requirements of the automobile, or of certain acts to be performed in connection therewith. The device includes a plurality of indicia bearing elements, each of which may have a legend on one side thereof, or the same legend formed in different colors on opposite sides thereof. Thus if the legend Oil in red is presented, the driver is thereby reminded that the automobile requires oil. After oil has been supplied to the car, the element bearing the oil indicia is moved to conceal Oil in red, thus causing Oil in some other color to appear for the purpose merely of identifying the element. Any number of these elements may be provided, each bearing a diiferent indicia. Coacting with the elements is a mounting so constructed as to permit a pivotal adjusting movement of the elements. Said means mayalso have-an elastic coaction avith'the elements to retain them in set position. It will be appreciated that the reminder device may be attached in flat position as shown in Figl 3, to a support and function as specified, or it may be disposed around a suitable bar, tube, or other available projection. In connection .with steering wheels,

the device may be mounted on aspoke of the .wheel at a predetermined point. thereon, though preferably in angularly adjustable relation and also,- if desired in longitudinally sliding relation thereto. .Asingle indicator elementcmay also be used-having different indicia thereon, spaced a small angle apart, as, forexample, a hexagonal. prism pivoted about its longitudinal axis. WVith the above general zchar acteristicsin mind, the device specifically includes a plurality of narrow elongated indicator elements, having openings therethrough intermediate or centrally of the ends thereof, through which a pivot member is passed. l/Vhile theopenings'of the elements may be -inthe form of slots :to aid in the pivotalaction, it is preferred toafford a resilientcoaction, as, for instance, by making the pivot member elastic. For that purposethelatter may consist of a spring or of an .11 elastic -ba.nd.'. Being-flexible, the device may be applied around a spoke of any shape in cross section, and engaged thereon by suitable attachment means.

Referring in detail to the drawings 10 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may bea'pplied to, anysuitable machine or article, as, for example the spoke 11 of an automobile steering handwheel- 12 to act as a reminder for: the needs of the car; 4 The device 10 includes a plurality of indicator elements 13 made of any-suitable material, such as bakelite, glass, metal-or wood, all of these elements being preferably of uniform size and shape, and functioningas indieators by reason of indi cia 14 placed on impressed thereon. \Vhile the elements may be of anyssuitable shape and construction, they'inaynierely consist-of solidrod stock of uniformlength and adapted to be evenly dis-posed side by side.

Formed intermediate :the ends: of the elefments :18, preferably-- at the centers thereof, aredianietralpassages 15through which a suitable pivotal and holding member 16 may extend. .This member 16 may be flexible and is preferably elastic or may have elastic means coacting therewith or. with the ele- Jnents. A simple-construction may consist in forming member 16 of an elastic band,- havmg rubber-therein,or-of 'a coil-spring-l'? 'mal-ly concealed a shown in Fig. 6. At the ends of the member 16 are any suitable attachment or fastening means 18 for individual engagement with a support so as to hold the elements 13 against the support. Preferably, the attachment means are constructed to interconnect the ends of the member 16 to form the device 10 into a loop. Since member 16 is flexible, the loop will conform to any shape of support or wheel spoke. Each element 13 may include 7 the-same legend-indifferent colors on opposite sides thereof, legend in red being norainst the steering wheel spoke while the otlier legend in some other color beingexposed to identify the element bearing the-particular legend. Thusaif the engine jacket requires wateig theiope'rator .grasps theelement bearing the. legend "lVaterf stretching the member-16 and pivotally swings theelement to bring the reverse :55

side upward. to show the legend W ater iin red.- Upon releasing the element, thoelast-ic member 16 draws the element snugly against the spoke holding it in set-position. \Vhen the water has been supplied to the engine, them same operation is repeated,tobring the element baclc to initialposition. Other-legends that may bei usedonthe otherielementsi-nelude, for eXample, Gas, Battery,Tires, License, Insurance, etc. 8.

The device 10 maybe angularly-adjusted around the spoke tobring the required-legenduppermost, and it may also be adjusted longitudinally of thespoke to any convenient position.

Coacting with the fastening means is in block 19 which may constitute a part thereof or'an enclosure therefor, thisblock having an opening 20 for that purpose, and a passage 21 communicating therewith through wh ich the 305 member 16 is passed. The fastening means 18 may include, if desired a hook 22and an eye 23, and the hook :may' be: of sufficient length tozenter the opening 20 and engage the eye. The block- 19 may carry-suitable adver-illo tising on-one or both facesthereof;

In Fig. 6 is shown a.modification,-wherein a block 24 has a central opening25 ito'receive the fastening meanswl8. Alined passages26,27 are provided communicating with thecopening 25', thedatte'r-passage being of sufiicient. size to admit the hook-22, and the attachment of the hook and eye oecurringby manipulation through opening 25. I

The device shown in the drawingsconstitutes but one possible embodimentxof' the invention. If the: spokewhereon the device 10 .is mounted is tapered, the provision ofa flexible member 16 will permit thewdevice tobe z moved to-thesmall end'of the spoke-andian indicator element pivotally set as above stated,'andthe device-returned tosthe large end of the spoke. The scope of-the invention is indicated in thefollowing claims; 2-130 I claim:

1. A device including a plurality of narrow elongated elements disposed side by side, each element having indicia on opposite faces thereof, each element having a transverse passage therethrough at a point adjacent to the center between the ends of the element, a flexible elastic member threaded through said passages, and attachment means for uniting the ends of the elastic member whereby the elements may be disposed flat against a surface and individually pivotally moved about said elastic member to present either indicium, on stretching the elastic member.

2. A device including in combination with a support, a plurality of narrow elongated elements disposed side by side around the support, said elements having each a passage intermediate the ends thereof, a flexible member passing through said passages and having the ends thereof interconnected to hold the elements around the support, each element having indicia on opposite sides thereof, said member being elastic so that it may be stretched to pivotally move any of said elements about the member to present either indicium.

3. The combination with a bar, of means including a loop member, the latter taking around the bar, and a pluralityof indicator elements separately movably attached to the loop member, said means having an elastic coaction with the elements, whereby an element is resiliently held against the bar and can be moved about the loop member to present any desired indicia.

4. A device including a plurality of indicator elements, a flexible member interconnecting the elements, and releasable attachment means for the ends of the member, sald attachment means including fasteners secured to the ends of the member, and a block having an opening for receiving sald fasteners therein.

5. A device including a plurality of narrow elongated elements disposed side by side, each element having indicia on opposite faces thereof, each element having a transverse passage therethrough at a point adjacent to the center between the ends of the element, a flexible elastic member threaded through said passages, and attachment means for the ends of the elastic member, whereby the elements may be disposed flat against a surface and individually pivotally moved about said elastic member to present either indicium, on stretching the elastic member, the attachment means including an eye and hook for opposite ends of the elastic member, and a block having an opening to receive the eye and hook therein, the block having a hole for receiving the elastic member, the hook being movable out of the block opening, said block being. adapted to carry advertising indicia.

6. A device including a relatively stationary support, a plurality of narrow elongated indicator elements disposed in side by side relation along said support, and an elastic tension member connected to said indicator elements intermediate the ends of each and extending transversely to said elements, said elastic member coacting with said indicator elements for swinging movement of the same about the elastic member to disclose a desired indicium, the elastic member holding the indicator elements against the support to prevent the swinging movement, whereby an indicator element may be swung by elongating the elastic member.

7 In combination with a support, a plurality of indicator elements disposed upon the bar, and elastic tension means holding the indicator elements against the bar, the indicator elements being rotatable about the clastic means to present a desired indicium, and the indicator elements coacting with the support to prevent rotation of the same and being released for rotation on stretching the elastic means.

8. A device including a bar, a plurality of indicator elements disposed therearound, and means extending around the bar for holding said elements thereon, said means having a resilient coaction with respect to the bar for movement of an individual indicator element relative to the bar, said indicator elements and means being angularly movable around the bar to present any desired indicator element.

9. A device including a wheel having a tapered spoke, an elastic loop means extending around said spoke, indicator elements separately connected to said loop means in side by side relation and held by the latter against the spoke, whereby the indicator elements and loop means are adjustably movable along said spoke with the loop means deforming to accommodate the spoke.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CARL EDWIN CARLSON. 

